Paragon School

What Paragon School does

The Paragon School is an independent co-educational Christian day school located at Lyncombe House, a Georgian estate on eight acres in Bath, UK, serving approximately 250 children aged 3-11. Founded in its current form in 1983 through a merger with Lyncombe House School, the school operates as a registered charity (Charity No: 281242) under the Prior Park Educational Trust, alongside Prior Park College (Bath) and Prior Park School (Gibraltar). Its core educational offering comprises three sequential programmes: Squirrels Pre-School (ages 3-4), Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2, ages 4-7), and Prep (Years 3-6, ages 7-11), supplemented by an add-on portfolio including SuperPirates wraparound care, Holiday Clubs (Camp Teepee, Art School, Cookery School, Friday Playwalks), peripatetic music tuition, over 65 co-curricular clubs, a Forest School programme run by Playwood, and learning support / ELSA services. Specialist teaching is delivered from age 3 in Music, Art, French, and PE, and pupils access Prior Park College facilities (swimming pool, science labs, sports pitches) via a shared minibus, with most Year 6 leavers progressing to Prior Park College or other selective senior schools.

The school's go-to-market is relationship-led and community-driven: families enter a four-step admissions process (tour with the Head of School, registration with a non-refundable £150 fee, taster/assessment days, and formal offer with a £600 refundable deposit), supported by open mornings, Good Schools Guide coverage, ISI 'Excellent' ratings, and word-of-mouth referrals. The revenue model is dominated by recurring per-term tuition fees, with supplementary recurring streams from wraparound care and holiday clubs, and per-use charges for lunches (£1,000/year), learning support (£60 per 60-minute session), instrumental music lessons (£35.30 per half hour), and instrument hire (£65/term). Sibling discounts scale from 5% (second child) to 20% (fifth child) and means-tested bursaries widen affordability. Underlying technology is operational rather than differentiated: Finalsite powers the website, iSAMS runs the parent portal, Flywire handles international fee payments, and the classroom stack includes interactive whiteboards, iPads, and Personal Learning Devices for Years 5-6.

Name

Paragon School

Legal name

The Paragon School

Website

https://paragonschool.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Paragon School is an independent co-educational prep school in Bath, UK, serving 250+ children aged 3-11 across Pre-School, Pre-Prep, and Prep. It operates as a registered charity under Prior Park Educational Trust, sharing facilities with Prior Park College.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Primary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Outdoor/Nature/Forest Preschools (EDACABAJ)

Keywords

• Independent prep school
• Primary education
• Pre-school childcare
• Wraparound care
• Holiday clubs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bath

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. School Tuition Fees: Primary revenue from tuition fees for children aged 3-11 across Squirrels Pre-School, Pre-Prep, and Prep departments. Fees are charged per term with separate charges for extras including lunches, learning support, and instrumental music lessons.
2. Wraparound Care and After-School Clubs: Revenue from SuperPirates after-school club services and breakfast club provision.
3. Holiday Clubs: Revenue from holiday club programs including Camp Teepee, Art School, and Cookery School during school holidays.
4. Learning Support Services: Additional charges for learning support sessions, in-class support, and instrumental music lessons provided by the school.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Paragon School is an independent co-educational Christian day school for children aged 3-11, delivering the full pathway from Squirrels Pre-School through Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2) and Prep (Years 3-6). It provides specialist teaching from age 3 in Music, Art, French, and PE, complemented by Forest School outdoor learning across eight acres, wraparound care, holiday clubs, peripatetic music tuition, and 65+ co-curricular clubs. The school serves as the principal feeder to Prior Park College and is situated in Lyncombe House, Bath.

Product overview

The Paragon School is an independent co-educational day school for children aged 3-11, operating as part of the Prior Park Schools family. The school's core educational offering consists of three sequential programmes: Squirrels Pre-School (ages 3-4), Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2, ages 4-7), and Prep (Years 3-6, ages 7-11). These are supplemented by add-on programmes including wraparound care via SuperPirates, holiday clubs (Camp Teepee, Art School, Cookery School), music tuition, over 65 co-curricular clubs, a comprehensive PE and sport programme, and outdoor learning/Forest School sessions. The school leverages its proximity to Prior Park College for shared facilities including swimming, science laboratories, and sports amenities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Squirrels Pre-School Independent nursery and Pre-School for children aged 3-4, offering specialist teaching in music, art, French, and PE, weekly Forest School experiences, and a seamless pathway into Reception at The Paragon School.
• Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2) Early years and Key Stage 1 programme for children aged 4-7, offering a dedicated class teacher for core curriculum alongside specialist teaching in French, Music, and Games, with weekly swimming lessons at Prior Park College.
• Prep (Years 3-6) Key Stage 2 programme for children aged 7-11, where children join one of four houses (Abbey, Crescent, Holburne, Milsom) and receive specialist teaching in Art, Computing, Music, Modern Foreign Languages, Drama, Philosophy, and Sport, with access to Prior Park College facilities for Science labs, swimming pool, and sports.
• Holiday Clubs (Camp Teepee, Art School, Cookery School, Friday Playwalks) School holiday childcare including Camp Teepee (outdoor activities), Art School, Cookery School, and Friday Playwalks for children aged 5-11 years.
• Music Tuition Programme Peripatetic music lessons in cello, violin, flute, clarinet, saxophone, recorder, cornet, trumpet, trombone, drum kit, guitar, bass guitar, piano, and voice, taught by visiting teachers alongside the curriculum music programme.
• Co-Curricular Activities and Clubs Over 65 extra-curricular clubs including creative arts (Art Club, Pottery Club, Sewing and Textiles), music and drama (Sing Out! choir, Joyful Noise choir, Drama Club, instrumental groups), active sports (Swimming Club, Rugby, Cricket, Netball, Hockey, Football), and challenge clubs (Chess Club, Fun Science, Philosophy Club, Computer Coding).
• Sport and PE Programme Specialist PE and Games programme covering netball, hockey, rugby, football, cricket, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, and fitness, with access to Prior Park College facilities including indoor swimming pool, all-weather pitches, athletics track, tennis courts, and sports centre.
• Outdoor Learning and Forest School Eight acres of grounds used for outdoor education including woodland classrooms, Forest School sessions led by Playwood Forest School, themed areas (Bark Wood, Sloppy Swamp, Outer Mongolia), and curriculum-linked outdoor activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35% of 2023 cohort received scholarships and awards to local Bath schools
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prior Park CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior school partner providing facilities access including indoor swimming pool, all-weather pitches, athletics track, tennis courts, Bury Sports Centre, theatre (Julian Slade Theatre), design and technology department, science laboratories, and dance studio. Most Year 6 pupils progress to Prior Park College. The Paragon uses Prior Park's campus for sport, science, drama, and design technology. Minibus service connects the two schools.
• Playwood Forest SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist Forest School provider delivering bespoke weekly outdoor learning sessions for children from Squirrels to Year 6. Uses canvas outdoor classroom as base and curriculum-linked activities exploring woodland landscape.
• SuperPiratescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocally renowned children's events company providing after-school club care from dismissal until 6pm (Monday-Thursday) and 5pm (Friday). Located in school hall. Also provides holiday club services. Registration required; booking form available for day selection.
• Prior Park GibraltarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Prior Park Schools family along with Prior Park College. Prior Park Gibraltar is a co-educational Catholic Senior School for day pupils aged 12-18 located in Gibraltar.
• Palmer & HowellsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool caterers providing delicious healthy cooked lunches daily
• Todber Manor FisheriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFishing venue hosting Fishing Club trips for Paragon pupils
• Local and International CharitiesminorOthers18 charity partners supported through QE Day initiative in 2024, raising over £13,000. Supported charities include St Martin's Garden Kitchen Pantry and The Nest Project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kingswood School Bath: Independent co-educational school in Bath spanning nursery through sixth form. Competes directly for prep-age pupils in Bath and is identified by Paragon as a destination school for scholarship-awarded leavers.
• King Edward's School, Bath: Independent co-educational school in Bath for ages 3-18. Most direct geographic competitor for prep-age pupils with similar selective senior school progression, comparable fee tier, and overlapping curriculum specialisms. Listed by Paragon itself as a destination school for its leavers.
• Monkton Combe School: Independent co-educational school located just outside Bath with Pre-Prep (Heywood Prep), Prep, and Senior phases. Direct competitor for Bath-relocating families seeking independent prep education with outdoor and pastoral emphasis.
• Royal High School Bath: Independent girls' day school in Bath with Junior School (pre-prep and prep) feeding into senior school. Competes for the same Bath and relocating families at the prep level and is named by Paragon as a destination school for leavers.
• Wells Cathedral School: Independent co-educational school in nearby Somerset with Junior and Senior phases. Comparable in ethos, fee tier, and outdoor/specialist teaching breadth; competes for wider Southwest families relocating to the Bath-Bristol corridor.
• Beaudesert Park School: Independent co-educational prep school in the Cotswolds for ages 3-13. Comparable in size, fee tier, and Forest School/outdoor emphasis; competes for rural-affluent and Bath-adjacent relocating families.
• The Elms School: Small independent co-educational prep school in nearby Cold Ashton, serving ages 3-13. Direct comparator in size, ethos (Christian, outdoor-focused), and Bath-area catchment for parents seeking smaller independent prep settings.

Broad incumbents

• Prior Park College: Sister senior school within the Prior Park Educational Trust. Functions simultaneously as Paragon's primary feeder destination and shared-facility provider (swimming, science, sports, theatre), making the relationship integral rather than competitive.
• Cognita Schools: Global group operating multiple UK independent schools. Not a direct competitor in Bath but illustrates the multi-site independent school model that The Paragon cannot easily replicate, and competes for the same regional pool of senior-school talent and parental mindshare.

Regional players

• Westonbirt School: Independent girls' school in Gloucestershire (with co-ed nursery and pre-prep) offering comparable specialist teaching, outdoor learning, and fee tier. Competes for Southwest relocating families within a 30-mile Bath catchment extension.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ParagonBath
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheParagonJunior
• Instagraminstagram.com/paragonjunior
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paragon-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paragon School